French film scores highlight North Texas symphony performances

by John P. Meyer

Maestro Robert Carter Austin is a busy man. He's the conductor and music director of three local symphony orchestras: Garland, Arlington and Las Colinas.

This week - on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (Feb. 12, 13 & 14) - Maestro Austin will be conducting three consecutive evening performances (at three separate locations) of a program called the Movie Scores Quiz. This will, in fact, be the fourth annual such movie-related musical quiz performance for the busy baton-wielder.

The idea is that the various orchestras will play selections from the soundtracks of famous French films (such being the theme of this year's film quiz program), and then audience members will have a chance to identify the film titles with which they are associated and the composers responsible for them.

Says Austin: “It’s easier then it seems, because we give lots of hints; cast, director, year, and so on. Last year’s winner got a nice set of CDs for taking top honors.”

Hinting that, perhaps, this year's winners will also walk away with some jewel cased goodies.

If you're serious about the whole quiz-winning thing, you might want to bone up a bit beforehand. (Or, you could just kick back and have a good time listening to some great music.)